OPA meeting provides drama and dissention
By Bob Lassahn

Wedged between special meetings devoted specifically to some of the more controversial issues brewing within the Ocean Pines Association (OPA), the July 22 monthly meeting of the Board of Directors (the board) still provided opportunity for drama and dissention in the ranks. Slightly more than 40 persons were in attendance for the Saturday morning gathering.

Announcements from Board President Glenn Duffy included a new date of August 1 for the bid opening regarding the new community center, with an analysis on August 4 and potentially a final decision on August 10 during a special meeting of the board. He also announced that the new Environmental Controls Committee (ECC)/Architectural Review Committee (ARC) guidelines and procedures, a previously divisive issue for OPA are now approved. They are undergoing final grammatical review before being published on the OPA website and will take effect 30 days after publication.

Wearing his acting general manager hat Mr. Duffy summarized that OPA now has the capacity to make signs “in house” resulting in a considerable savings; that all pools have passed a county inspection and that attendance has been brisk; repair of “cuts” in OPA roads resulting from work on the water lines is being actively pursued with the county; and ballots for the upcoming OPA board election have been mailed.

He also announced that Joe Reynolds of OceanPinesForum.com was the low bidder for taping board meetings for broadcast on channel 78 and that food service venues, except for upstairs at the Yacht Club, were doing well. Anticipated figures regarding costs for a proposed indoor pool operation did not manifest and Mr. Duffy merely commented that the ones in the directors’ packets contained an error.

Public Comments drew 12 speakers to the podium, including two candidates for the board, three sitting members of the Budget and Finance Committee (BFC) and two sitting board members. Among the three BFC members was current chair John O’Connor, who thanked the board for the opportunity to serve as his tenure draws to a close.

Board candidate Ray Unger called for the board to immediately rescind the current prohibition against weekend catering at the upstairs portion of the Yacht Club, while candidate Bill Zawacki protested a recent decision to limit public comments at ECC/ARC meetings. Two speakers commented on lack of maintenance of OPA facilities.

Sitting director and candidate Mark Venit took the podium to fire a salvo at recent comments in the local press he perceives as misinformation generated by his opposition on the board. This apparently moved Director Janet Kelley to respond with a salvo of her own and although not specifically targeted, was obviously directed at Mr. Venit. Her presentation resulted in the only uttered curse word of the meeting when she recalled a comment made about her during a closed session that cannot be reproduced here.

During Old Business Director Heather Cook went on the offensive, specifically targeting Mr. Venit and his marketing campaign. Summarizing that Director Venit has not delivered a written plan with details and schedules she introduced two motions, both with objection from Director George Coleburn as a violation of procedure.

The first motion, seconded by Director Kelley, revokes the current catering policy at the Yacht Club and would allow catering year round. The motion carried on a 4/2 vote with Coleburn and Venit voting against and Duffy abstaining. The second motion, seconded by Director Reid Sterrett, was more directly aimed at Director Venit and sought to revoke his oversight of marketing and advertising.

Director Venit defended his efforts and described the action as political in nature, but offered his resignation and stated he would still be willing to help with the ad campaign. For a brief time it appeared the motion would be withdrawn based on the offered resignation, but after an obvious sidebar with Director Dan Stachurski, Mr. Venit recanted his resignation. When the vote was called the motion failed on a 4/3 decision with directors Sterrett, Kelley and Cook in the minority.

Motion introduced at the meeting included an attempt by Director Venit to breathe some life into a Task Force on Accounting previously approved by the board, but languishing for lack of action. Mr. Venit found substantial opposition and the motion failed on a 5/2 margin with Coleburn and Venit the only supporting votes.

Another motion from Director Venit that was made, according to his statement on behalf of the Golf Marketing Committee of the Board of Golf Governors, would allow renters to golf at the same rates as OPA members and allow coupons and other solicitations via real estate offices. The issue of allowing renters to play at the same rates as OPA members was withdrawn when it was pointed out that this is already established policy regarding all OPA amenities. The coupon/solicitation portion of the motion was debated for a time, but was tabled on a motion from Director Kelley and seconded by Director Cook. The vote to table carried on a 4/3 margin with Stachurski, Coleburn and Venit in the minority.

Director Venit’s motion to hold a public hearing on the OPA Audit report met with a warmer reception and with suspension of normal procedures even gleaned support from a BFC member present. With some tweaking on language the measure passed unanimously.  Copies of the audit will be made available for review on the OPA website and at the Administration Building with the public hearing scheduled for September 9.

A motion from Director Venit regarding broadcast of OPA board meetings was withdrawn based upon his observation that action from Acting General Manager Duffy has already occurred.

Director Coleburn introduced a motion to rename the Community Hall to honor former general manager Dave Ferguson. A number of directors voiced support regarding the spirit of what Mr. Coleburn was seeking to accomplish but were reluctant for a variety of reasons to agree to the measure. The motion was withdrawn prior to a vote.

A similar motion to rename the South Gate Pond as Memorial Lake was also supported somewhat in principal, but in practice was found objectionable to some directors. Director Stachurski commented that the pond is for drainage and does not stand up to the proposed name and purpose. An attempt to table the motion failed and when the final vote was taken the measure failed 4/3 with Sterrett, Coleburn and Venit in the minority.

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